Vanitas made his way to the address Karina had given him for Roselyn’s new workshop.
He knocked twice. To—Tok. The door opened to reveal a man in a white robe.
“Yes, how may I help you?”
Behind him, several others wearing similar robes were busy arranging the space.
‘She already has people working under her. Interesting.’
Vanitas glanced past him briefly, then returned his attention to the man.
“I’m here for Roselyn. Is she in?” Vanitas asked.
“She’s currently out. But, excuse me, who might you be?”
“Vanitas Astrea.”
The man’s eyes widened, and his face turned pale for a moment before he quickly composed himself.
“Ah, my apologies, Lord Astrea,” he said. “We were instructed to treat you as an SVIP. Please, come in.”
Vanitas shook his head. “No need. Just tell me where she is.”
“She’s at the Alchemy Tower, attending to some business.”
“I see.”
Without another word, he turned and began walking away.
Vanitas stepped into the car and settled back into his seat. Picking up the document resting beside him, he opened it and began reading.
“Return to the University Tower,” he instructed the driver without looking up.
“Understood, Lord Astrea.”
As the vehicle rolled down the streets, Vanitas’s eyes scanned the document. It was an investigation report conducted on him four years ago. Thanks to the Gambino Family’s efforts, he managed to get a hold of it.
The document detailed inquiries into his actions, affiliations, and suspected involvement in certain events.
While much of it appeared vague, the undertone was clear to him.
Someone had been watching him closely. The case, however, was eventually dropped.
The odd part? The investigator in charge of the case had mysteriously disappeared.
“….”
Vanitas frowned. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall any memories related to this particular event.
“Hmm….”
He had reached out to the firm where the investigator had worked, but they claimed the man had left without a trace, and despite conducting their own search, his disappearance remained a mystery.
“Who are you, William Camus?”
Moments later, they arrived at the University Tower.
“We’re here,” the driver said.
Vanitas nodded, stepped out of the car, and entered the tower. However, a sudden commotion caught his attention.
From a distance, Margaret was approaching with two others wearing light armor.
“Margaret?”
“Ah, Professor,” Margaret greeted.
The people with her avoided his gaze, except for one—Clevius—who was openly glaring at him. Vanitas ignored him, and fixed his attention back to Margaret.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“There’s a problem at the Alchemy Tower,” Margaret explained. “A hostage situation. My order has been dispatched to handle it.”
“….”
Vanitas remained silent for a moment, processing the information.
The Alchemy Tower….
Roselyn was there.
“I see,” he said, nodding.
After a brief exchange, the knights hurried outside, quickly getting into their car. When they left, Vanitas stepped into his own car.
To target the Alchemy Tower specifically…. only one name came to mind.
“Claude, huh?” he muttered.
He was certain. There was no doubt about it.
He had expected Claude to act, but he hadn’t anticipated something on this scale.
“Sigh.”
Vanitas leaned back in his seat, his mind already formulating a plan.
There was a way to handle this without resorting to fighting. It was a cold decision, but one he had considered playing ever since he worked to take Claude down discreetly.
In the first place, Vanitas was never the type to shy away from such measures.
He gestured to the driver. “The Rosamund Estate.”
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror but didn’t question the command.
“Understood, Lord Astrea.”
The car sped off, navigating through the streets as Vanitas reviewed his next steps.
———「Event Act」———
「Rewards:」
◆ Understanding: +10%
————————————
***
Inside the Alchemy Tower, chaos reigned. Alchemists scrambled to stop Claude, but something was wrong.
Crackle——!
This wasn’t the Claude they knew. Half of his face had turned purple, and his body distorted unnaturally, as if it was transforming into something horrifying.
No, it wasn’t just a transformation.
It was the clear manifestation of a demon. Not an entity or spirit—this was the full materialization of a demon in physical form.
To the alchemists—scholars deeply rooted in their careers—the sight of a demon within the capital was a horrifying sight.
“Where’s Roselyn!”
Boom——!
Dark magic tendrils erupted from Claude, scattering debris and shaking the tower. Around him lay the robed alchemists, lifeless or injured.
The remaining alchemists, realizing they couldn’t stop him, scattered around the Tower.
Some hid, trembling behind shelves and overturned tables. Others tried to flee, only to find themselves trapped inside the tower.
Amidst the chaos, Roselyn hid in a hidden room tucked away inside Sienna’s office.
“It’s a Demonic Synthesizer Enhancement Drug,” Sienna explained. “A drug that’s recently being distributed within the underworld. My team and I are investigating it. To think Claude managed to get his hands on it.”
Roselyn’s eyes widened in surprise. Sienna’s explanations continued.
The drug worked by corrupting a person’s mana core, transforming it into a demonic core—similar to what every dark mage possessed. However, for those who couldn’t acclimate to such power, the result was exactly what was happening to Claude.
Corruption.
But Sienna knew the truth.
It wasn’t a genuine demonic transformation.
The drug contained a built-in self-destruct mechanism. In the end, the drug would completely consume Claude, leading to his inevitable death.
“Magnus’s Mana Crystallization Formula,” Sienna began. “At first glance, the formula seems—”
———!
The tower shook tremendously, cutting her off. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling. Once it stabilized, Sienna exhaled and continued.
“Haah…. The formula—it’s the foundation of modern alchemy.”
That was the truth.
The standard alchemical formulas used today were derived from an incomplete version of Magnus’s Mana Crystallization Formula. While few knew this, veteran alchemists in the field were well aware.
That was why Magnus’s full formula was so highly regarded.
“We’ve managed to retrieve a sample of the drug,” Sienna said. “But to create an effective counter, the complete Crystallization Formula must be applied.”
“….”
Roselyn remained silent. She knew where this was going.
It made sense now why Sienna had taken such an interest in her.
Of course, Sienna must have realized this connection after Roselyn presented the completed formula at the academic conference.
“Of course, creating a counter isn’t possible right now, especially considering the circumstances.,” Sienna said firmly. “It won’t even be possible today.”
Roselyn swallowed deeply and nodded. “….Yes, I understand.”
Sienna placed a steady hand on Roselyn’s shoulder. “You are the most important person in this tower, Roselyn.”
It was clear to everyone that Claude’s actions were driven by revenge, making Roselyn his primary target.
“Whatever happens, even if everyone else here dies, you must survive.”
“….”
***
“What’s the situation?”
Margaret asked as she arrived with her Order, accompanied by two knights—Clevius and Johanna.
The area was swarming with mages and knights, and the vicinity had been closed off to keep onlookers away.
A mage approached her, bowing slightly. “The tower is trapped within a Fractal Veil. We’re working to dismantle it, but it’s proving to be extremely difficult.”
Margaret frowned. “How long will it take?”
“At this rate, hours—maybe more. The veil is heavily reinforced with dark magic.”
In simpler terms, there was no way to peer through whatever was happening inside.
However, the dense mana surrounding the area was enough to catch the attention of any mage nearby.
Margaret stepped closer to the Veil, extending her hand. Her fingers phased through the barrier.
Then, she pulled her hand back and nodded to herself. Inside the Veil, the mana concentration was suffocatingly dense.
While Fractal Dimensions and Fractal Veils were similar, there was a key difference.
Fractal Dimensions acted as magical spaces, while Fractal Veils functioned as barriers—essentially creating a pocket dimension.
In this case, breaching the veil might be possible, but the risks were significant.
Risks that none of the gathered mages seemed willing to take—despite the possible casualties inside.
“Margaret?”
A familiar voice called out, and Margaret turned toward the source.
“Nicolas?”
It was Nicolas Machiavelli, accompanied by knights from his Crusade Order.
Unlike Margaret’s group, Nicolas’s order held official recognition and a formal title—the Machiavelli Knights. However, with a few more notable achievements, Margaret knew it was only a matter of time.
Nicolas glanced at the knights standing beside Margaret. “Clevius. Johanna.”
“Sir Nicolas.”
Johanna gave him a polite nod. Meanwhile, Clevius frowned.
Nicolas turned his focus to Margaret. “You’re thinking of breaching it, aren’t you?”
“….”
Margaret remained silent, staring intently at the veil.
“I feel the same,” Nicolas said, glancing at the mages struggling to dismantle the barrier. “At this pace, the sun will rise before they make any progress.”
Margaret finally spoke. “It’s risky.”
“True,” Nicolas said. “But every moment we waste puts those inside at greater risk.”
“Are you suggesting we act now?”
“If we coordinate,” Nicolas replied, “it might be possible. With our combined Orders, the knights here, and the mages already working on the Veil, we stand a chance.”
Margaret glanced at the gathered knights and mages, many of whom were still hesitating.
After a brief moment of silence, she took a deep breath and nodded. “We’ll do it.”
Nicolas turned to the mages. “Prepare the array. Focus on stabilizing an entry point.”
“Sir Nicolas,” one of the mages asked. “Are you certain? Whoever set up this veil is highly skilled. It’s possible the caster is at Sovereign-level mastery.”
“We don’t have the luxury of waiting. People inside are at risk. If we don’t act now, it may be too late.”
Of course, everyone understood that.
The intricacy of the barrier made it clear how much control the caster had within the Veil.
It was an expanded space where the caster could manipulate nearly everything, except for the structure of the tower itself, as it wasn’t of their creation.
“Yes, Sir Nicolas,” the mage said. “But we’ve already sent a team of knights and mages inside. None of them have returned.”
“Were they capable?”
“Highly.”
“Then we’ll act as their backup,” Nicolas declared, turning to Margaret. “Are you with me?”
Margaret nodded. “Of course.”
After gathering a group of knights and a team of mages who weren’t working on the barrier, they breached the veil after managing to decipher a small entry point.
WHIII—
The mana concentration intensified. They felt the weight press down their shoulders.
“….”
***
Claude’s thoughts were in disarray—filled with nothing but despair and hatred.
His vision blurred, but he kept moving forward, searching for the one he blamed for all his misfortunes.
Roselyn.
Boom——!
Despite his intentions to wreak havoc on the field of alchemy, the alchemists fought back harder than he expected.
To make matters worse, additional mages had managed to breach the Veil he had painstakingly created.
A Veil that had consumed the entire Rosamund family fortune to acquire the necessary medium.
“Claude Rosamund, surrender!” one of the mages shouted.
“Roselyn!”
However, Claude merely screamed looking for Roselyn. Dark tendrils of energy lashed out. Black bolts of lightning crackled, spreading like spiderwebs and shattering barriers set up by the mages.
His juggernaut—like presence filled the room with a sinister aura.
“Suppress him!” shouted one of the knights accompanying the mages.
The mages began to chant in unison, activating a magic circuit that flared beneath Claude. Meanwhile, the knights charged forward, aiming to break through his defenses.
Crackle——!
Claude let out another guttural scream. The dark tendrils around him grew denser, thrashing violently, and knocking several knights back before they could get close.
Despite the combined efforts, Claude’s power continued to escalate. It was as if his despair and hatred fueled an endless reservoir of strength.
This was not the power of a Dark Mage—but the power of an uncontrolled demon.
Meanwhile, the alchemists unleashed their magic. They hurled elixirs designed to disrupt mana flow. But it was useless. The dismantling effects dissipated against the overwhelming force of Claude’s corrupted mana.
***
“Now, escape while he’s distracted,” Sienna commanded.
Roselyn nodded. The two peered over the wooden railing.
Below, chaos reigned.
Several mages lay lifeless, blood pooling around them. Knights with shattered armor and broken weapons struggled to contain Claude.
The windows had been sealed off with dark magic, leaving only one way out.
The entrance Claude had used.
The Tower’s natural barrier magic made destroying the walls impossible. All towers were built with this safeguard.
Roselyn hurried down the stairs, glancing back at Sienna, who followed closely.
Behind them, several other alchemists, desperate to escape, joined them, taking advantage of the chaos.
Suddenly, the walls exploded.
Boom——!
Dust and debris filled the air. As it cleared, a figure emerged. His face was partially purple, and his narrowed eyes burned with hatred.
“Roselyn….”
It was Claude.
The alchemists screamed, scrambling in panic. Some froze, paralyzed by fear before they lost their lives before Claude.
“Roselyn!”
Roselyn barely had time to react before Sienna grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
A streak of black lightning shot toward them.
Crackle——!
Sienna spun around, casting a barrier in desperation. The bolt struck, shattering the barrier instantly and piercing through.
Thud.
Sienna stumbled as dark magic struck her shoulder. She gasped in pain but didn’t let go of Roselyn’s hand.
“Run!” Sienna screamed desperately, clutching her injured shoulder as she urged Roselyn forward.
Roselyn’s legs felt like they were about break, but she pushed forward, dragging Sienna along.
But despite their desperate struggle, Claude closed the distance in an instant.
However, it was then.
Boom——!
The entrance to the tower blasted open, the massive doors flying off. Men and women in light armor stormed inside.
The Crusade Order had arrived.
Leading them were two knights of the Crusade of the Round Table.
“Coordinate the mages!”
“Margaret, you and your men close in!” Nicolas commanded. “Support the front line!”
Margaret drew her sword, glancing back at her knights. “Clevius, Johanna, with me! Everyone else, follow Nicolas’s lead!”
“Yes, Grand Knight!” they responded in unison.
Yet, despite their arrival, Claude felt no fear.
This was his final stand. His mind was consumed by a single, all-encompassing thought.
Destroy the one who had taken everything from him.
No other thoughts surfaced—only the dark magic fueling his body and his drive to accomplish his objective.
But in the presence of the Crusade Order, especially the two knights of the Round Table, Claude’s chances were nonexistent.
Slash——!
Blades sliced through his dark magic. Claude’s blurred vision couldn’t track their movements. Magic attacks rained from every direction, coordinated perfectly by the supporting mages.
“Akh…!”
Claude stumbled, blood dripping from fresh wounds. His strength waned, and he realized he wouldn’t last much longer.
Desperation took over as he surged forward, ignoring his injuries, and made a beeline toward Roselyn, who was retreating to join the Crusade knights.
“….!”
But before he could reach her.
“Miss Sienna!”
Sienna stepped in his path. Claude’s hand, coated in dark energy, plunged straight through her body.
———!
The room froze.
Sienna’s eyes widened in pain, but she managed to whisper, “You have to…. survive.”
Thud!
Claude, showing no emotion, cast her body aside like a discarded object.
Before anyone could react, his hand shot forward.
“Stop!” Margaret’s voice rang out as she appeared before him.
Her blade halted, just inches from Claude’s neck.
“….”
Claude froze as well. His hand hovered mere inches from Roselyn’s back. One wrong move, and he’d be struck down before reaching her.
A suffocating silence filled the room.
No one dared to move.
“….”
If Margaret moved, Claude would move as well, and considering the sudden boost in magic output, Margaret wasn’t confident she could outmatch the speed of Claude’s magic.
It was a standstill.
Amidst the tense silence….
——….Father.
A voice broke through.
Claude’s thoughts wavered for a moment. He turned toward the source. Everyone else followed his gaze.
“….Charles?”
Claude’s voice, though distorted by the dark magic consuming him, carried a hint of recognition. Despite the corruption clouding his mind, he could never fail to recognize his son.
But as Claude took in the sight before him, his focus shifted to the person standing behind Charles.
The room froze.
“Vanitas…” Nicolas muttered.
It was Vanitas.
“Stand down, Claude.”
“….”
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
“Father, please….” Charles’s voice cracked. “Stop this.”
Vanitas stood behind Charles, pressing a revolver firmly against the back of the boy’s head.
Clink—
The revolver clicked.